The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has called for a ‘balanced and pragmatic approach' to automated vehicle (AV) regulation, stressing that deployment ‘must align with established transport policy objectives' such as decarbonisation, accessibility, place-based planning and public health.

In response to the Government's recent call for evidence for the development of the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework, CIHT argued that AV services should be focused on strengthening public transport networks and be used to support ‘first-mile and last-mile journeys' in ways that don't undermine local priorities such as 15-minute cities and 20-minute neighbourhoods.

CIHT also stressed that AVs must meet a ‘high and transparent' safety threshold and called for regulatory approaches that ‘enable ongoing monitoring of safety performance' alongside clear standards regarding data sharing and public reporting in order to build ‘trust and confidence among all road users'.

Sue Percy FCIHT CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT, said: ‘Automated vehicles have the potential to deliver real benefits, particularly in improving safety and accessibility, but they must be introduced in a way that supports a sustainable and integrated transport system. Regulation should ensure that automation works for people and places, not against them.

‘Getting the regulatory framework right from the outset is critical. This includes clear national standards, a fair and transparent approach to liability, and sustained support for local authorities who will be on the frontline of managing automated vehicles on our roads.'

CIHT also noted that AVs will need to operate safely within ‘complex, real-world environments' such as on roads with temporary layouts, variable speed limits and with road markings that are sometimes inconsistent.

As a result, it stated that local authorities will need both financial and technical support to adapt to ‘manage the additional demands' that come with adapting networks to AVs, such as digital mapping, data management and cybersecurity.

The full CIHT response can be found here.